Present Solution Podcast

Mike Barsamian

Welcome to "The Present Solution Podcast," where we tackle the real issues parents face with their teenagers. Join us as we have candid conversations with parents, teens, and professionals, uncovering insights and strategies to help you improve your relationships with your teens. Together, we'll explore ways to stop conflict, create connection, and build trust while navigating the challenges of the teen years. Whether you're seeking guidance on communication, boundaries, or understanding your teen, this podcast is your resource for building the best relationship now and for a lifetime.

  1. 10 AVR.

    Screens, Teens & You: A Family Guide to Getting Your Attention Back

    If screens are creating distance in your family, this episode is for you. Mike breaks down exactly what's happening in your family's relationship with technology — and what to do about it — for three groups: parents, early teens, and experienced teens. Most families don't have a screen problem — they have a presence problem. In this episode, Mike unpacks why "just put the phone down" doesn't work for anyone, what the research actually says about screen use and teen wellbeing, and delivers specific, age-appropriate action steps for every member of your family. The key insight: your phone has quietly become the manager of your attention, your mood, and your nervous system. Getting your family's attention back starts with you. Why willpower doesn't work. Studies show that simply having your smartphone visible — even turned off — measurably reduces cognitive capacity. Lasting change comes from environment design, not motivation, and apps are engineered around intermittent variable reward — the same mechanism as a slot machine — making the urge to check nearly automatic. For parents — professionals & working adults Create one daily recovery zone — the first 30 minutes after you get home. Genuine presence at that transition point does more than hours of being physically nearby but mentally elsewhere.Whitelist, don't blacklist. Allow only urgent contacts and channels. Batch everything else to 2–3 scheduled check-ins.Name your reflexive checking out loud in front of your teen: "I just picked up my phone without deciding to. I'm putting it down."Invest in non-screen restoration — walking, nature, slow breathing, meals without devices. Rest replenishes attention. Stimulation doesn't.Have an honest family conversation, not a lecture. Families that build media norms collaboratively get significantly better outcomes. For early teens — ages 11–14 Devices charge outside the bedroom. Screen use in the hour before bed disrupts sleep quality and duration with cascading effects on mood and mental health. Frame it as a health protocol, not a punishment.Device-free mealtimes — and that includes yours. Regular connected family dinners predict better mental health and lower risk behaviors in teenagers.Build the boredom muscle. Unstructured, unstimulated time is a foundational skill for creativity and emotional regulation. It has to be practiced.Monitor content, not just time. Not all screen use is equal. Stay genuinely curious about what your teen is doing online.1–2 hours of device-free one-on-one time each week, their choice of activity. This is the strongest counter-programming to device dependency that exists. For experienced teens — ages 15–19 Shift from rules to agreements. Agreements created collaboratively are honored at significantly higher rates than rules handed down.Teach the "how do you feel after" test. Evaluate screen use not by how engaging it felt during, but by how they feel 5–15 minutes after putting the device down.Help them map their urge patterns. When do they reach for the phone without deciding to? Self-awareness changes the behavior.Collaborate on device-free zones rather than imposing them. Ask: "What do you think would actually work for our family?"Model and narrate your own screen relationship. For older teens, watching a parent actively manage their own habits is the most credible message you can send. The real cost isn't the time — it's the presence. Every reflexive phone check mid-conversation sends a message: something else just got prioritized over you. Done consistently over years, it shapes how a teenager understands their own value. Someone has to lead. It has to be you. Ready to go deeper? If you're stuck — lack of connection, screen battles, disrespect, or a relationship with your teen that feels distant — the PACE Parent Leadership Academy was built for this moment. Register for the free masterclass at www.presentsolutionforparents.com Follow us on all platforms: @MikeTheParentCoach

    23 min
  2. 18 MARS

    Say it Once - Say it Right: Strategic Discipline

    Skilled Parents Know How to Practice Strategic Discipline With the right tools, you can learn to pause, reflect, and act from your values — even when your teenager is pushing back hard. Most parents react to their teenager’s behavior or they freeze. They either say something in the heat of frustration that they immediately regret, or they know something needs to be addressed and can’t find the words to do it without blowing up the conversation. Either way, the moment passes — and so does the opportunity for growth. In this episode, Mike introduces the concept of Strategic Discipline: a values-driven, intentional approach to the hardest parenting moments. Not punishment. Not control. Teaching. Guidance. The kind of discipline that builds both the relationship and the teenager at the same time. You’ll walk away with two practical frameworks you can use in real time:  The Five Stages of Strategic Discipline  The Discipleship GPS.  Strategic discipline isn’t about being harsh. It’s about being principled. It isn’t about conflict. It’s about alignment.   What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why the word “discipline” has been misunderstood — and what it actually means The difference between a reaction and a response, and why your teenager can feel which one you’re giving them What a LifeOS is and why it’s the foundation of every effective discipline conversation The Five Stages of Strategic Discipline — and how to recognize which stage you’re in The Discipleship GPS: three questions that move you from reactive to intentional in 60 seconds What strategic discipline is actually building in your teenager — beyond behavior   The Five Stages of Strategic Discipline STAGE 1: Tension  —  Your gut is telling you something STAGE 2: Acknowledgment  —  Name the value, not just the behavior STAGE 3: Engagement  —  Open the conversation with curiosity, not accusation. STAGE 4: Clarity  —  Say it once, clearly, then stop STAGE 5: Action  —  Follow through grounded in love, not frustration The Discipleship GPS When the moment actually arrives and something needs to be said right now, run these three questions. In order. They take about 60 seconds and will move you from reactive to intentional every time. QUESTION 1: WHO AM I? QUESTION 2: WHAT TYPE OF MOMENT IS THIS? QUESTION 3: WHAT DOES A PARENT LIKE ME DO IN A MOMENT LIKE THIS?   “Strategic discipline isn’t about punishment. It’s about teaching. It’s not about control. It’s about alignment with who you are as a parent and who you want your teenager to become.”   “A reaction is what happens when your emotions run the show. A response is what happens when your values run the show. Your teenager can feel the difference, even if they can’t articulate it.”   “Family values are not rules. Rules are specific. Values are the principles that give the rules their meaning.”   Reflection Questions for This Week When was the last time you reacted to your teenager instead of responding? What was the value underneath that moment that you didn’t name out loud? What are your 3–5 core values as a parent? Can you access them under pressure — in the moment, without having to think about it? What are your family values? Do your teenager and your household actually know what they are? Which of the Five Stages do you most often short-circuit? Do you skip from Tension straight to Action? Do you get stuck in Clarity and repeat yourself? Resources & Links PACE Parent Masterclass — www.presentsolutionforparents.com Follow Mike on all the socials: @MikeTheParentCoach Have a question or a story from this episode? Reach out directly: Hello@presentsolutionforparents.com   🔔  Subscribe so you never miss an episode ⭐  Leave a review — it helps other parents find this show 📤  Share this episode with one parent who needs it today 💬  Drop a comment or DM — Mike reads them

    26 min
  3. 07/12/2025

    The Rite of Passage Trip

    Present Solution Podcast – Rite of Passage Trip for Teens Episode Summary:In this episode, we dive deep into the importance of a rite of passage trip for 13-year-olds. Drawing from personal experience and cultural traditions, we explore how these trips can help teens transition into adulthood, build trust, and strengthen family bonds. Key Topics Covered: The significance of a rite of passage at age 13How to plan a meaningful trip for your teen (ideas for all budgets)The biological and emotional changes teens experience at this ageThe “Trust Triangle”: teaching honesty, empathy, and good judgmentHow to foster open communication and set healthy boundariesEncouraging independence while maintaining a strong parent-teen connectionPractical tips for making the trip adventurous and memorableThe value of shared experiences and overcoming challenges togetherActionable Takeaways: Start planning a rite of passage trip for your teen—no matter your budget, the experience is what matters mostUse the trip as an opportunity to have important conversations about trust, values, and expectationsInvolve your teen in the planning and preparation to build confidence and responsibilityRemember: it’s never too late to create these meaningful moments, even if your child is already past 13Connect with Us:Have questions or want more tips? Reach out at hello@presentsolutionforparents.com and follow us on Instagram for more advice on connecting with your teen. Check out our masterclass on becoming a P.A.C.E.-setting Parent at www.presentsolutionforparents.com. Listen to more episodes for practical parenting strategies and real solutions to everyday challenges!

    24 min

À propos

Welcome to "The Present Solution Podcast," where we tackle the real issues parents face with their teenagers. Join us as we have candid conversations with parents, teens, and professionals, uncovering insights and strategies to help you improve your relationships with your teens. Together, we'll explore ways to stop conflict, create connection, and build trust while navigating the challenges of the teen years. Whether you're seeking guidance on communication, boundaries, or understanding your teen, this podcast is your resource for building the best relationship now and for a lifetime.